The Shenandoah Spy-Being the True Life Adventures of Belle Boyd, CSA, The “Confederate Cleopatra”
The cover of this book is an artist’s rendering of Belle Boyd. It is disturbing in that it is not remotely anything like what Boyd looked like. The version shows a seductive and beautiful Belle holding a gun and staring at the reader. The real Boyd, although not a handsome or comely lady facially, knew how to use her curves for attention and misdirection. This difference did not entice me to pick up this historical novel. Was there a reason why a photo of Belle could not have been used? Since this is a historical novel, don’t look for endnotes, references or a bibliography. You know that dialog and scenarios are treated with a broad brush and a large amount of liberty. As a historical novel, this book is exactly that. But I found some concerns. References to Nat Turner, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Garibaldi, the Masons and other references are used as backdrops without explanations. For example, there are references about Master Masons and the Masons, but nothing further. What role does this society play in the Belle Boyd saga? However, many pages are devoted to the unimportant and minutia. There seemed to be too many characters moving in and out of Belle’s adventures. There seemed to be a great need to throw key events and people in to this stew. The author, since he is the owner of the publishing company, should have taken a sharp pencil to the outline and manuscript. All the appropriate people and events are mentioned but much without connection to Boyd. We see Boyd being trained as a spy, learning the code and being taught how to disguise herself. The Confederate spy for Longstreet made famous in the film “Gettysburg,” James Harrison drops in to teach Belle how to come up with a disguised persona for herself. As a help, the author provides readers with a thorough Dramatis Personae to help us keep track of the characters. From the Northern side of the ledger there are 22 people, while the Southern side provided 25 personalities. I must admit that the chapter where Belle engages in sex with a Union officer is overly graphic and one that we could live without. Like many other chapters, this one should have been cut. It really contributes nothing. It was also uncomfortable reading. The book introduces Col. Sir Percy Wyndham, a colorful rascal who commanded the 1st New Jersey Cavalry. He is a brazen leader in the mold of Custer, Stuart, and Forrest. In general, if fiction is your treat, then you might find book of interest. But note that it needs editing and can be confusing, Reviewer: George Khoury is an adjunct professor at University of Central Florida. He will present a workshop this summer at the Civil War Preservation Trust's Teacher Institute. He has taught the war from a Southern perspective and is the winner of six National Endowment for the Humanities History grants. |
Softcover, 433 pages, novel, 2008. Brass Cannon Books, Pathway Book Service, P.O. Box 89, Gilsum, NH 03448, $18.95 plus shipping.